Chapter 35: The Insolent Servant Invites His Own Destruction

Chu Xi lifted her gaze and met the eyes of Old Madam Mo, feeling a sudden tremor in her heart.

The woman who had once worn an apron with a benevolent smile, Auntie Mo, now appeared cold as an iceberg, her face long and stern. A sense of unease welled up in Chu Xi. She struggled to calm her emotions, stepped forward, and offered a formal greeting.

"Greetings, Old Madam Mo." She forced herself to swallow the words "Auntie Mo."

The old woman let out a disdainful snort. "Three years have passed, and the Miss of the Chu family truly has grown airs. I had Mother Xu call for you for quite some time before you finally deigned to see me. Could it be that now that Zixiao is gone, you have dropped your pretense and revealed your true, arrogant colors, no longer holding me in any regard?"

What was she talking about? She had done no such thing.

Yet, this made Chu Xi realize that the past was truly gone; only the present was real. She had to cast aside those old memories and face the current situation with clarity and reason.

With this thought, she bowed slightly. "I have been suffering from a chill and a fever, which is why I was late. I hope you will forgive me, Old Madam."

"A fever?" Old Madam Mo narrowed her eyes, scrutinizing Chu Xi’s face.

Just then, Mother Li suddenly threw herself to the floor, kneeling with a thud. Clutching her face, which had been struck by Steward Zhao, she wailed in grievance, "Old Madam, you must seek justice for me!"

"What is the meaning of this? Who has wronged you?" Old Madam Mo had already guessed that Mother Li must have been slighted while going to summon Chu Xi.

Mother Li knelt on the ground and sobbed, "I was ordered to deliver a message to Miss Chu’s room, but was cursed and humiliated by the maid in her room. I couldn't help but step forward to reason with her, but then Steward Zhao barged in and struck me without rhyme or reason. I have lived to this age, and now I have no face left to go on living." She lowered her head and wept inconsolably.

Hearing this, Old Madam Mo glared at Zhao Cheng. "Steward Zhao, whose face are you trying to slap?"

Zhao Cheng stepped forward immediately. "Old Madam, please do not listen to the one-sided story of this insolent servant. Relying on your favor, she habitually bullies and berates the maids and servants. Just moments ago, she smashed up Miss Chu’s room, and now she runs here to cast blame on the victim. If you do not believe me, you may send someone to see for themselves, or go look with your own eyes. I speak nothing but the truth."

"I am wronged!" Mother Li’s performance was nothing short of masterful.

Chu Xi turned to her and said softly, "Mother Li, are you implying that it was I who, along with Steward Zhao, wronged you?"

Zhao Cheng, furious, clenched his fists. "Old Madam, if you continue to shelter and indulge this insolent servant today, then when the General returns to the estate, I shall immediately resign from my position as steward."

"Old Madam, I am wronged! You must not believe Zhao Cheng; he has long been resentful that I hold your trust."

Old Madam Mo was not entirely ignorant of the fact that Mother Li, relying on being her personal servant, was often overbearing. But after all, one must consider the master before beating the dog.

"Zhao Cheng, tell me then, how do you propose we deal with Mother Li?"

Zhao Cheng looked at Old Madam Mo with resolute eyes. "Today, Mother Li overstepped her bounds in Miss Chu’s room, acting with tyranny and smashing things. One need only look at the state of that room to see how rampant her behavior was. Therefore, according to the rules of the house, she should be given twenty lashes and expelled from the estate."

Old Madam Mo’s heart sank; she had not expected Zhao Cheng to demand such a harsh penalty.

"Miss Chu, how do you think this matter should be handled?" She threw the thorny problem to Chu Xi. Since the matter started because of her, shouldn't she be the one to resolve it?

Chu Xi looked up at the Old Madam, understanding her intent. If she followed her lead and let Mother Li off, she could not swallow the bitterness in her own heart. But if she agreed with Steward Zhao to have her lashed twenty times and cast out, she would offend Auntie Mo, further deepening the rift between them.

Thinking of this, Chu Xi spoke softly, "Although this matter started because of me, it is a fact that Mother Li has been overbearing and arrogant in this General's residence, relying on her service to you. In my view, there is no need to expel her; after all, you have grown accustomed to her service. However, punishment is unavoidable. Twenty lashes might cost her her old life, but ten are necessary. Otherwise, the servants in the house will follow suit, and how will there be any authority? When the General returns, he will surely conduct a strict overhaul due to the lax discipline. By then, I fear even you, Old Madam, will not be able to protect her."

Hearing that she was still to be given ten lashes, Mother Li immediately changed her tune. She pointed at Chu Xi and cursed, "What kind of thing are you, to be pointing fingers in this General's residence? Our Old Madam is still sitting right here; by what right do you presume to judge me?"

Chu Xi had anticipated this reaction, and she waited quietly for this insolent servant to seal her own fate.